train advice
 

We have made several trips to Europe but have never ridden the train. Want to ride the train from Amsterdam to Brugge. Please give me advice. The schedule indicates stops. How do you know where to go once your train stops? If you miss the connection, can you hop on the next train to that destination? Do you need to make reservations before you leave home or can you just buy tickets the day you embark? Any advice on train travel would be appreciated.

You can easily buy tickets at the train station day of travel for that route.

The schedule available on bahn.de shows that you can do this journey with only one train change, in Antwerp. That would be best for you if you are nervous about the train changes. You may be able to determine the track numbers from the schedule whenyou buy your ticket. If not, you can easliy find it when you get to Antwerp. There is a large board showing the departing trains, and the track numbers. When you get off the train to change, look for the board, notice the track number for your next train, and then (usually) you head down stairs to cross under the tracks to the right platform. They are all clearly numbered and it is actually very easy.

If you should happen to miss your connection (unlikely), you can just catch the next train. If you made reservations, you won't have a reserved seat, however. I don't know how much of a problem this might be in the Netherlands; we generally travel in Switzerland and without reservations.

Riding a train in Europe is just like riding a bus anywhere 90% of the time. Buy a ticket and get on the train. It's not like a plane.

For your route take the International Express to Antwerp and then connect to a train bound for Brugge. Buy your ticket to Brugge in Amsterdam Centraal Station. If you insist on paying more and needing a reservation take the Thalys.

Be careful of pickpockets and baggage thieves in Amsterdam especially.

Riding a train in Europe is definetely not rocket science.

You have hourly connections from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Brugge, with one transfer in Antwerpen.

Trains (according to the current schedule) leave Amsterdam CS every 56 minutes past the hour.

In Antwerpen you have 19 minutes to get to the platform for your train to Brugge. That is more than enough. If things go wrong, take the next train (one hour later).

IMO, there are only a few things to keep in mind:

The most obvious: All times are given on the 24hr clock. Since you have made several other trips to Europe, you will probably have no problems with that.

Language: Belgium is bi-lingual -- actually, it is tri-lingual, but I try not to make it unnecessary complicated ;-)

So, Antwerp is Antwerpen in Flemish and Anvers in French. Brugge is Flemish, and means Bruges in French.
Displays often show both language versions, or show them alternating. Don't let that confuse you.

Antwerpen Centraal Station has undergone substantial renovations. There are also platforms on two underground levels. I cannot tell you where your train to Brugge will depart, but simply keep in mind that the right platform can be either on street level or underground.

Trains often go further than you plan to travel. Your train from Amsterdam to Antwerpen will eventually terminate in Brussels/ Bruxelles. So, the displays in Amsterdam may or may not show Antwerpen as a stop.
Your trains from Antwerpen to Brugge will eventually go to Oostende.
To minimize confusion, trains are identified by a combination of letters and numbers, e.g. IC 9232. IC stands for InterCity.

And one last thing: trains usually stop only for a very short time, e.g. the InterCities from Amsterdam to Bruxelles stop for only 2 minutes in Antwerpen. So you should be a little bit prepared to get off the train once you get close to Antwerpen. But stops will be announced over the trains' PAs.

So, again, no black magic involved. Millions of people do it every day here ;-)

Hi BP,

You can also take the train from Amsterdam to Brussels, where you change for the train to Brugge.

Takes about the same time.

>How do you know where to go once your train stops?<

At the station where you have to change trains, there will be a sign board of some sort showing all of the departing trains and the tracks from which they leave.

There are also ticket agents who can help you.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Hi Betty

One more piece of advice. Spring & summer finds loads of travelers headed everywhere and Brugge is no exception. Second Class is typically filled to the brim.

For Day trips, it's no big deal but if you're schlepping your luggage...

We splurged on First Class for our Amsterdam to Brugge train ride so that we'd have zero hassles with stowing our luggage. It's just a few dollars more and way less hassle on a crowded train. We even sat alone in a 6 seat compartment it was so uncrowded.

You'll love Brugge.

Dave

My wife and I are planning a 2-week vacation, based in Amsterdam, and running from April 26th through May 11th. My guess is that roughly half that time will be dedicated to various day trips. I have two questions:

1. What are your top 5 or 6 rail trips (excluding the Hague & Keukenhof)? And ...

2. Given that our vacation spans two months, what (if any) is the best type of rail pass to consider?

Thank you.

jmf314159,

I guess that you know that Queen's Day is April 30? Incredible street party. I'll be there again.

Day trip to Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Zandvoort, Utrecht, Zandvoort, and on and on. A pass would probably be a burden for what you are doing. Just buy tickets. Good advice on train travel at http://tinyurl.com/eym5b.

Two months? That looks like two weeks.

Thanks for the reply.

By "spans two months" I meant to indicate that it was the last week in April and the first week in May. I mentioned it because I thought at least one of the rail passes allowed for N number of days in a given month and, as such, would prove too restrictive.

Thanks, again.